A number of resolutions are on the table as municipal leaders from across the Kenora District meet virtually Thursday night.
The annual association meeting usually brings local leaders together in one room for a couple of days but has been reduced to a few hours online due to the pandemic.
KDMA President Kevin Kahoot says one topic up for discussion is an end to provincial downloading.
“We’re concerned with the cost of public health moving forward. Northwest Health Unit funding from the communities. We’ve all been hit right now with rising insurance costs within the municipality. Some up to 20% to 30% which is really alarming for a lot of communities.”
Kahoot notes the high insurance rates are impacting municipal budgets.
He stresses another big concern is, “The use of Crown Land in municipal boundaries. And that’s something that myself, other mayors and KDMA have been fighting with the province for awhile. It’s a tool that would allow municipalities to generate revenue without going to the province with our hands out looking for funding.”
The Ear Falls Mayor says opening up Crown land would generate tax revenue in their communities without having to rely on grants and loans.
Kahoot says another topic on the table will be social service funding, “All the different things that are coming out of this pandemic as far as needs for more policing, mental health and addictions counselling.”
He notes “The issues that hit small communities in northwestern Ontario haven’t quit. So hopefully we can safely get through this pandemic and get on to business with the province and federal government.”
